Luanda – President João Lourenço received on Wednesday in an audience the Angolan athlete Demarte Pena, a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, to learn about his concerns on the sport.
“The conversation was very good. The moment served to inform the Head of State of my difficulties and the work I've been doing for the development of sport in the country,” the athlete said at the end of the meeting.
As for future plans, the athlete said that he is currently working with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to hold a fight in Angola during the celebrations of the country’s 50th anniversary of National Independence.
Demarte Pena said that one of the biggest dreams of his career is to continue working to enter the UFC, which is the biggest league in the world, in the United States of America.
During the audience, Demarte Pena presented President João Lourenço with the trophy he won at a competition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in September,where he was crowned champion and best African athlete.
Born on September 24, 1989, in Luanda, Demarte Pena is a mixed martial arts fighter, known for his success in the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC), one of the biggest MMA promotions in Africa.
He was the EFC's first bantamweight champion and held the belt in a dominant fashion for several years.
The athlete competes in the bantamweight category (up to 61 kg) and is known for his impressive undefeated record for a long time, having won several fights in the EFC, which catapults him as one of the most dominant fighters in the event.
He is well versed in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling, combining these skills with an excellent ability to control the fight on the ground, which gives him a significant advantage against his opponents.
In addition to his success in MMA, Demarte Pena is seen as one of the leading names in sport in Angola and an example of overcoming and excellence for African athletes on the global stage. AFL/ART/TED/AMP
